Call for Applications: Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue

Deadline: 07-Jul-2024

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is accepting applications from candidates in UfM countries wishing to bid for the “Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue ” title for the year 2026 (MCCD 2026).

The aim of this call is to lead to the designation of two of these candidates as Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue 2026.

The main objectives of the MCCD initiative are:

• to enhance the richness and diversity of the Euro-Mediterranean region and contribute to intercultural dialogue;
• to highlight the Euro-Mediterranean identity of the cities involved while promoting their historical and cultural heritage;
• to promote local action and that of civil society, which is increasingly dynamic and active in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation;
• to develop the network of territorial cooperation in the Mediterranean while uniting the members of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership by creating a bond between selected North and South cities;
• to provide public platforms to address socioeconomic, cultural, and identity issues of regional relevance.

Award Criteria 

• Programme
  • Regarding the programme, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • the applicant is not required to create an entirely new cultural programme for the title. Ongoing and planned cultural activities for 2026 can be included in the programme, provided they meet the requirements;
    • the applicant is not required to follow a standard programme template or foresee a minimum number of activities. The applicant shall elaborate its programme according to its cultural strategy, governance, budgetary and management capacities;
    • the cultural programme shall cover the year of the MCCD 2026 title;
    • the programme shall be coherent and consistent, with a cultural and artistic vision and strategy, clear objectives, and a documented ability to deliver;
    • the programme shall give a general overview of the structure, including the range and diversity of the activities and main events that will mark 2026;
    • the applicant shall offer a programme coordinated by local authorities with the support of a coalition of non-governmental and civil society actors in the conception and implementation phases (e.g., cultural institutions, schools and universities, sports institutions, civil society organisations, and other relevant actors);
• Euro-Mediterranean dimension 
  • Regarding the Euro-Mediterranean dimension, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • every application must be based on a cultural programme combining local objectives with a solid Euro-Mediterranean vision;
    • the programme content shall broaden the understanding and awareness of citizens on the richness and diversity of cultures in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as on the commonalities between these cultures, heritage, and history;
    • the proposed programme shall include activities promoting cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, greater mutual understanding, and integration across the Euro-Mediterranean region;
    • the programme might address regional challenges identified by UfM members, namely:
      • Environmental and climate action.
      • Sustainable and inclusive economic and human development.
      • Social inclusiveness and equality as essential elements in the socioeconomic development of the region.
      • Digital transformation.
    • the programme shall feature Euro-Mediterranean artists and participants and encourage international partnerships to attract the interest of a broad Euro-Mediterranean and international public.
• Content and objectives of the cooperation between the two Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue 2026 
  • Regarding the content and objectives of the cooperation between the two Mediterranean Capitals of Culture & Dialogue 2026, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • the MCCD 2026 title will be assigned to two cities, one representing the North of the Mediterranean and one representing the South of the Mediterranean;
    • each candidate city shall submit one application, which will be evaluated as a stand-alone application;
    • the application shall include viable and assessable modalities and content to enable collaboration with a counterpart city, if desired and when possible.
  • Candidates may but are not obliged to refer to cooperation agreements with a counterpart city established in view of the MCCD application process. While the inclusion of pre-existing cooperation agreements with another city applying in the framework of the MCCD initiative is allowed and encouraged, each application will be assessed separately. In the case of a pre-existing cooperation agreement in the framework of the MCCD initiative, awarding the MCCD designation to one of the two cities will not necessarily imply the counterpart’s success. Still, it will be highly valued in the evaluation process.
• Civil Society engagement
  • Regarding the engagement of Civil Society, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • Civil society refers to all forms of social action carried out by individuals or groups who are neither connected to nor managed by state authorities.
    • the applicant shall prove the involvement of the local civil society community in the conception and implementation of the programme;
    • the applicant is strongly encouraged to create a partnership with at least one civil society organisation member of the ALF National Civil Society Networks;
    • the applicant shall develop inclusion measures to ensure activities are accessible to all parts of society, including young people, the elderly, and women. The programme shall provide opportunities for a broad and diverse range of citizens to attend or actively participate in the activities;
    • the programme shall involve educational institutions to promote intercultural learning, enhance intercultural competencies and skills, and strengthen intercultural knowledge;
    • For-profit stakeholders can be involved, provided they are engaged in public-private-civic partnerships.
• Governance and management 
  • Regarding governance and management, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • the applicant must ensure and supply evidence of full political support and a commitment from all local, regional, and national authorities concerned;
    • the applicant shall provide detailed information in the application on the governance structure and management to ensure proper delivery and implementation of the programme and to facilitate cooperation with the different partners at the local and international levels;
    • the applicant shall ensure and supply evidence of an adequate and viable infrastructure to host the title;
    • the applicant shall clarify the internal monitoring, evaluation, and quality control systems they intend to implement.
• Communication 
  • Regarding Communication, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • the applicant shall foresee a communication strategy and provide a detailed plan to ensure wide national and regional accessibility, visibility, and dissemination;
    • the applicant is encouraged to comply with the UfM and ALF communication and dissemination guidelines.
• Environmental impact 
  • Regarding the environmental impact, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • the applicant shall address the environmental impact of the submitted programme, including through the identification of risks and mitigating measures.
• Financial capacity 
  • There is no direct financial support for the Mediterranean Capital of Culture & Dialogue 2026; therefore, applicants must bear all costs related to implementing their programmes.
  • The Advisory Committee will assist the designated cities in establishing contacts with potential donors for project-based funding where required and invite selected cities to consider mutual support where feasible. Financial support from the private sector is allowed when relevant and respectful of the eligibility and award criteria. The UfM Secretariat will ensure that some of its meetings and events expected in its annual work programme will be organised in the selected MCCD, ideally one per division (i.e., six events).
  • Regarding the financial capacity, the following requirements shall be considered:
    • the applicant shall provide information about the annual budget for culture in the city over the last five years before the submission of the application;
    • the applicant shall provide information about the operating budget (i.e., funds that are expressly set aside to cover operational expenditure, namely day-to-day spending on services) and capital budget (i.e., funds that are explicitly set aside to cover capital expenditure, namely primary and long-term expenses, e.g., infrastructures) that will be devoted to the implementation of the MCCD 2026;
    • the applicant shall provide a breakdown of the operating budget and the capital budget for the MCCD 2026, with details on funds coming from the public sector (city, region, state) and the private sector (sponsorships and public-private partnerships);
    • the applicant shall specify the fund-raising or partnership strategy if the private sector’s involvement is foreseen.

Eligibility Criteria 

• All submitted applications must fulfil the following criteria to be considered eligible and to be reviewed by the Advisory Committee:
  • the Leading Applicant must be located in a member state of the Union for the Mediterranean regardless of whether they represent cities on the coast or inland;
  • the Leading Applicant must be a local or regional authority representing a city, regardless of the size of the city. The designation of local or regional authority in this call refers to public administrations whose responsibility covers only a local part of the territory of a member state.
  • Applications may involve the city’s surrounding area, but the title is awarded only to the city itself and not the whole area. Therefore, the application shall be made under the name of the city;
  • A city can only be awarded the Mediterranean Capital of Culture & Dialogue title once.

For more information, visit UfM.